Rodent trap



May 21, 1935. 4 E. F. SCHROEDER RODENT TRAP Filed Feb. 21 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l dam nu 1 E. F. SCHROEDER 2,002,129

' RODENT TRAP Filed Feb. 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q w% i mm v xfil N N N M, E M {N a Q i Q R Q Q Q \M Q Q R g M R g x \g E m N I R P Q m R .m m I & mm .m \Vr E & Q E Q w w w m K V 5% mm Patented ..May i I I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i f rno min'r TRAP I, Weyauwega, Wis.

'Applicatlonl ebruary 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,388 I ;$i,1, j221osns; (cut- 2)", v This invention relates to a rodent trap and it of a link IS, with a shelf or projection 2| on the aims to providea novel construction adapted to standard, such link 19 being loosely and pivotally capture the animals or ro'dents, such as rats and connected aslat 22 to the capturing m mber. micein a more humane noiseless, and bloodless Thetrip m m r is a s in h t condition 5 manner, I H of thetrap elevated at one end, being so main- 5 The-i vention is also capable of use as a trap tained by ea on o a l 23 3 pivoted to for catching birds or desirable animals alive. the p l5 at A fl b element 25 iS A particular object is'to provide a novel connected to e link Passing through an p struction wherein the luring means comprises two ing 26 in e s el and thence being ements providing a runway between the same neoted to a trigger lever 21 along which a weight 10 and open at both ends. 28 is adjustably slidable.

The more specific objects and advantages will Trig e l 21 passes through all Opening become apparent from a consideration of the de- 29 in a vertical portion 30 of a bracket 3| suitably scription following, taken in connection with acfastened to the shelf 2|. Trigg level 21 passes companying drawings illustrating an Operative loosely through the slot 29 and at any suitable 15 embodiment. point along its length is adapted to fulcrum on In said drawings:- the portion 30 in said opening 29. Said trigger Figure l is aview of the trap in front elevation, l v 21 p a y has a t or groove at no Figure 2 is a view of the trap in end elevation, o p v engagement W t brack t 0 a Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on shown. A rod or finger 32 is adapted to be man 20 the line 3-3 of Figure 1, ually disposed at its upper or free end into a Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the trap, Slot 33 and engage a shoulder 34 of the trigger Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the lever to hold the p in a Set Condition With line 5-5 of Figure 4, and one end of the trip lever l5 elevated as shown. Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line The op r n of the device Will depend p the 25 6-6 of Figure 1. weight of the rodent and when a rodent of sulfi- Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein nt W i h ds up n the p platform l5 a like reference characters designate like or similar D11 W be t d n the link 23 and link, rod

parts, In designates a base of wood, metal, or or cable 25, thus tilting the lever 21 and disenother desired material having a side H rising gaging it from the rod 32. The rod 32 extends 30 therefrom to which is attached in any suitable fr m a link r bar 3 wh is p t y connected manner as at l2, a standard l3. Pivoted to the at one end 36 to a connecting rod Of a lever base H3 at M, is a trip platform I5. 38 pivoted at 39 to the bracket 3| and shelf 2|.

Loosely resting on a raised portion 16 of the Lever 38 is norm lly m in in d r t d by a base, at an edge I1, is a capturing member l8 Contractile spring 40 attached thereto, and to 35 shown in the form of a platform. Said capturthe shelf 2| or adjacent p Said rod 3 is ing member It in the set condition of the trap as p v a ly connected t a bell an v r pivshown in Figures 2 and 3 provides a space beoted at 42 to the shelf 2! or bracket 3| thereon. tween the same and the trip member l5, such The free arm or the lever 4|, in the set condition 40 space being open at the ends although closed at of e p, abuts the free end of the hook 40 the sides. Such a space forms a natural lure for t p i 40 O v u y being tenSiOhed n the rodents, such as rats, mice and the like and they r p i t. R d 3 facilitates n i nin of he will pass through the same so that the trap does p g not have to be baited to lure them. The weight As a result of the construction described, the

45 of an animal on the trip member l5 operates Weig 23 ay be adjust d so that the p 45 mechanism which releases capturing member l8. w lower under the desired W of an animal, This capturing member is adapted to be suitably and all below that weight being permitted to weighted, to which end, rocks orany means affreely pass thereover, if desired, without operatfording the desired weight may be superposed ing the trap. Downward movement of the trip thereon. The capturing member I8 in this in- IE under the weight of the animal moves the links 50 stance, when released, will instantly kill the 23 and 25 downwardly, accordingly tilting the animal. lever 21 so that it will be thrown upwardly at the In the set condition of the trap, the capturing weighted endthereof, releasing the rod or finger member I8 is held elevated at one end as in the 32, whereupon the spring 40 retracts the lever drawings, through the engagement of a hook 20 38 and rod 37, rocking the bell crank lever 4| 55 and causing its arm to move the hook 20 oif of the shelf 2!, whereupon the capturing member I8 is free to rapidly descend to crush the animal between the capturing member I 8 and the trip I5.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the runway between the trip 15 and capturing member it provides sufficient space to squeeze the breath out of the rodent so that it cannot squeal, and sufliciently covers the rodent so his companions cannot see him or become suspicious. The animal will not bleed and hence the trap may always be kept clean. Vibration or jars will not discharge the trap.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A trap of the class described having a base,

a standard rising therefrom, a shelf on said standard, a trigger lever, means pivoting said lever on said shelf, a trip member on the base, means flexibly connecting the trip member and trigger lever, a capturing member supported on the base and coacting with the trip member, link means extending from the capturing member having a hook engageable with said shelf in set position, a detent member for said trigger lever, a lever carrying said detent member, a contractile spring connected to the last mentioned lever and to actuate the same when the trigger lever is released, and. means connected to the last mentioned lever engageable with said hook to release said link means when the trap is sprung.

2. A trap of the class described having a base, a standard rising therefrom, a shelf on said standard, a trigger lever, means pivoting said lever on said shelf, a trip member on the base, means flexibly connecting the trip member and trigger lever, a capturing member supported on e the base and coacting with the trip member, link means extending from the capturing member having a hook engageable with said shelf in set position, a detent member for said trigger lever, a lever carrying said detent member, a contractile'spring connected to the last mentioned lever and'to actuate the same when the trigger lever is released, a lever member on said shelf, and a connection operable 'by .the lever to cause the lever member to engage and displace said hook.

EMIL F. SCHROEDER. 

